65 of the Best Paranormal Romances in Film, Literature, and Television

Thanks to Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight, the amount of published paranormal romances seems to have exploded. But she was certainly not the first of this genre, paranormal romance even a part of ancient mythology and various cultural folklore. Just think of Cupid and Psyche from Metamorphoses for instance with the tale of a god falling in love with a mortal. (Metamorphoses has several other examples as well.)

Paranormal, supernatural, mystical love stories are archetypal and are more than just what’s labeled as part of the genre. Even classic films with ghostly love stories can be found. And tales of forbidden love between a vampire and a human are now common in television as well. Basically, paranormal romance has been going on probably since the beginning of stories and I don’t think that’s ever going to end, whatever the medium of choice in modern day.

Check out Amber’s Top 25 Hottest TV Love Triangles

Since I believe the term “paranormal romance,” to be quite broad, I personally prefer the paranormal romance novels that don’t read like a ‘romance’ novel. The typical setup of ripping bodices and women falling into bed after a few chapters doesn’t interest me. What captivates me about paranormal romances are the impossible aspects these relationships offer. The potential themes of redemption (for say a dark hero or heroine that’s some kind of monster), star-crossed love that appears impossible or obstacles that stand in the way of a happy ending (like between a ghost and a human or say a pie maker and a girl he brings back from the dead), and even themes about immortality versus mortality. Obstacles are what make for the greatest love stories whether it be a supernatural one or otherwise.

But before I continue, what do I mean exactly by “paranormal romance?” I actually think that Wikipedia spells it out rather clearly:

“Paranormal romance is a sub-genre of both romantic fiction and speculative fiction. Paranormal romance focuses on romantic love and includes elements beyond the range of scientific explanation, blending together themes from the speculative fiction genres of fantasy, science fiction, and horror. Paranormal romance may range from traditional category romances, such as those published by Harlequin Mills & Boon, with a paranormal setting to stories where the main emphasis is on a science fiction or fantasy based plot with a romantic subplot included. Common hallmarks are romantic relationships between humans and vampires, shapeshifters, ghosts, and other entities of a fantastic or otherworldly nature. Beyond the more prevalent themes involving vampires, shapeshifters, ghosts, or time travel, paranormal romances can also include books featuring characters with psychic abilities, like telekinesis or telepathy. Paranormal romance has its roots in Gothic fiction.”

Read my list of the Top 35 Vampires in Film and Television

Honestly, I think that the connection between paranormal romances and Gothic fiction is another reason I feel so drawn to this genre and the fantastic nature of these tales (they can be very similar in themes). I love the unearthly atmosphere to these stories (as a kind of callback to books like Jane Eyre), though I think sometimes they can drift a little too close to the erotic than I would prefer. I want deeper, soul connections between the characters. Hence when I decided to compile a list of what I consider to be some of the best paranormal romances in all story mediums from literature to film, I wanted to try and choose a variety of what is considered some of the best, while still remaining as true to myself as I possibly could so this list will read very differently from most.

Also, while time travel is essentially considered part of the genre, I decided to mostly leave that for a future list. And because paranormal romance constantly crosses over into urban fantasy, I will probably have some that are a little blurred. Basically, as long as there’s enough focus on the love story, I put it under consideration into what I label a paranormal romance. I don’t care if it is third person, first person, a film, etc.: just an otherworldly love story from angels, vampires, aliens, witches, to zombies that are set in the real world (so no high fantasy or very much fairy tale for this one).

Without further delay, I give you my top 65 choices for paranormal romances in film, literature, and television in no particular order:

65 Paranormal Romances

Note: Some of these books/shows include mature content.

#1: Pushing Daisies

#2: Wuthering Heights 

#3: Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte 

#4: The Vampire Academy Series by Richelle Mead

#5: The Bloodlines by Richelle Mead (spinoff of Vampire Academy).

#6: What Dreams May Come

#7: The Silver Kiss by Annette Curtis Klause 

#8: Warm Bodies

#9: Tuck Everlasting 

#10: The Vampire Diaries (the original series) by LJ Smith. 

#11: The Vampire Diaries TV series

#12: Dark Visions by L.J. Smith 

#13: The Secret Circle by L.J. Smith 

#14: The Originals 

#15: Paranormalcy by Kiersten White 

#16: Kindred The Embraced

#17: The Ghost and Mrs. Muir

#18: Tithe by Holly Black 

#19: Die for Me (Revenants) by Amy Plum 

#20: The Host by Stephenie Meyer

#21: Twilight by Stephenie Meyer 

#22: Twilight 

#23: Starman 

#24: The Mercy Thompson books by Patricia Briggs

#25: Heaven Can Wait starring Warren Beatty

#26: The Ghost Bride by Yangsze Choo 

#27: Thor and Thor: The Dark World 

#28: The Sookie Stackhouse books (except for the last few) by Charlaine Harris 

#29: True Blood seasons 1-4 

#30: Sunshine by Robin McKinley 

#31: Splash 

#32: Practical Magic 

#33: The Kate Daniels books by Ilona Andrews 

#34: Portrait of Jennie

#35: Charmed 

#36: The Mortal Instruments Series by Cassandra Clare 

#37: The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones

#38: Kelley Armstrong’s Women of the Otherworld Series

#39: Just Like Heaven

#40: Death Takes a Holiday

#41: Meet Joe Black

#42: Kissed by an Angel by Elizabeth Chandler 

#43: Drop Dead Diva 

#44: Casper

#45: Beautiful Creatures series by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl 

#46: Beautiful Creatures 

#47: Blood and Chocolate 

#48: Roswell

#49: The Morganville Vampire Series by Rachel Caine

#50: Pandora and the Flying Dutchman

#51: Being Human UK

#52: I Married A Witch

#53: A Certain Slant of Light by Laura Whitcomb 

#54: Moonlight 

#55: The Green…books by Alice Hoffman

#56: Ghost 

#57: The Fallen series by Lauren Kate

#58: Buffy the Vampire Slayer 

#59: Dracula (1992)

#60: The TV series Dracula 

#61: Doctor Who Series 1-4 

#62: Corpse Bride 

#63: A Discovery of Witches (All Souls Trilogy) by Deborah Harkness

#64: Let the Right One In 

#65: Blood Ties 

Agree? Disagree with my choices? If you have some paranormal recommendations, sound off below…

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